10 MUSCI. 



[Gymnostomum. 



3. G. rupestre. SCHWAEGR. Leaves lineari-subulate, patent, 

 twisted when dry ; capsule ovate ; lid rostrate shorter than the 

 capsule. Schwaegr. Supp. I.p.31.t. xi. Muse. Brit. ed. 2. p. 

 19. Supp. t. ii. 



On wet rocks at the Dargle River, County of Wicklow. Similar to 

 the preceding. Its leaves are somewhat of a verdigris green, their 

 nerve pale, their consistence soft, not so rigid as in G. curvirostrum. 



4. G. tortile, SCHWAEGR. Stems tufted; leaves ovato-lanceolate, 

 obtuse, their margins involute, their nerve excurrent; capsule 

 oval, lid nearly straight, somewhat shorter than the capsule. 

 Schwaegr in Schraders Journal IV. Sect. ].p. 17. t. 1. Schwaegr. 

 Supp. I. p. 29. t. x. 



On cliffs of mountain rocks, especially of banks of rivers, very com- 

 mon in the South of Ireland. The fruit rare. The tufts sometimes 

 reach 3 inches in height and 8 or 9 inches in diameter. The leaves, 

 even when wet, are twisted to one side ; when dry, the close involution 

 of their margins gives them a shining and solid appearance ; their 

 nerve issues, as a slightly recurved point, beyond the membranous ex- 

 pansion at each side ; the lid is not rostrate or subulate, as in the two 

 preceding species, but in figure a lengthened cone. The ragged remains 

 of an annular membrane are observable within the mouth of the cap- 

 sule, but they can never be taken for the teeth-of a peristome. Schwa- 

 grichen's figure, in his Supplement, gives the leaves too suddenly nar- 

 rowed above ; in all other respects it, as well as Dr. Kunze's German 

 specimens, entirely accord with our plant. 



5. G. ovatum, HEDW, Leaves obovate, erect, very concave 

 beneath the summit, where is a secondary expansion of the 

 nerve ; piliferous ; capsule oval, furrowed ; lid rostrate. Hedw. 

 St. Cr. v. 1. 1. 6. Muse. Brit. ed. 2,p.2[,t. 7. 



On dry banks near Dublin ; also near Cork. The secondary ex- 

 pansion of the nerve of the leaf is often reddish-brown and opaque, 

 while the piliferous points are always colourless and transparent : the 

 mature capsule has a few opaque ridges running up its surface from the 

 base. It has the habit of Weissa lanceolata. 



6. G. truncatulum, HOFFM. Leaves oblong, rather acute, 

 apiculate, nearly plane, entire, their margins slightly recurved 

 at the base, capsule turbinate, or oval ; lid obliquely rostrate. 

 Hoffm. Germ. v. 2, p. 27. Muse. Brit. ed. '2, p. 22, t. 7. Bryum 

 truncatulum, Linn. sp. pi. 1 584. 



On clay banks and fields, common. This plant varies much in size ; 

 in its smallest form it has been denominated G. rufescens by Schultze, 

 and G. minutulum by Funke : it varies, too, in the length of the cap- 

 sule compared to its breadth, from the commonest case when the cap- 

 sule is turbinate or top-shaped, to when it becomes ovate or oblong, 

 the G. intermedium of Turner, and even to having capsules quite 

 cylindrical, as in a variety found near Cove. In all the columella is 

 apt to adhere to the lid when this has first separated from the capsule. 



7. G. Heimii, HEDW. Leaves lanceolate, serrated at the 

 tops, capsule oblong, lid obliquely rostrate. Hedw. St cr. \. t. 

 30. Muse. Brit. ed. 2, p. 22, t. 7. 



